Semi-inclosed collapsible upper-deck roof



June 7, 1927. 1,631,818

A. E. HUTT SEMI-INCLOSED, COLLAPSIBLE, UPPER DECK ROOF Filed April 15, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR:

" ATTORNEYS June 7 1927.

A. E. HUTT SEMI-INCLOSED, COLLAPSIBLE, UPPER DECK RODF 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed April 15 ATTORNEYS 1,631,818 June 7, 1927. A. E- HUTT SEMI-INGLOSED, GOLLAPSIBLE, UPPER DECK ROOF Filed April 15, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 y 10 via /7 10 f V6 (9 r June 7, 1927. 1,631,818

A. E. HUTT SElVlI-INCLOSED COLLAPSIBLE, UPPER DECK ROOF Filed April 15, 1925 v 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 BY r I ATTORNEYS.

Y Patented June 7, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT --OFFICE.

- having foldable bows ALBERT E. HUTT, OF ABDMQBE, PENNSYLVANIA.

SEMI-ENCLOSED COLLAPSIBLE UPPER-DECK 300].

Application filed. April 15, 1825. Serial No. 23,209.

My invention relates generally to a semiinclosed collapsible, upper deck roof for double deck passenger carrying vehicles or buses, wherein the roof sections when in use extend inwardly from the outer upper deck walls over the rows of transversely arranged upper deck seats having a center aisle between them, the height of the roof, when in use, of the average seated passenger and less than the height of the average standing passenger, so that as the latter walks to and fro in the central aisle, the roof section when in use, will be about breast high and the standing passenger can readily grasp the same to protect himself against the lurching of the vehicle.

By my invention a single attendant can adjust the semi-inclosed convertible top from open to closed position or vice versa, in a very short period of time and when it is desired ;:to use the vehicle with a completely open top, the convertible roof sections are expeditiously and effectively collapsed 'or stowed out of sight and out of the way of the upper deck seat occupants.

To the above ends, my invention consists of a novel construction of a collapsible,

semi-inclosed upper deck roof having bows and carlines of a novel construction.

It further consists of a novel construction of a roof of the character above described and foldable carlines of novel construction, in conjunction with folding stanchions which latter may be employed if desired.

It further consists of a novel construction of an upper deck roof, which when in unfolded position is normally above the heads of the average seated passenger, and below the heads of the average standing passenger,

said roof being provided with a novel construction of folding bows, folding carlines andfolding stanchions.

It further consists of a novel construction of a foldable or collapsible upper deck roof having foldable carlines provided with longitudinally extending rods, whose ends are guided in inclined guide slots at the vehicle ends so that when said upper deck roof is collapsed, all the elements thereofare guided and moved accurately and expeditiously into their folded positions.

It further consists of novel means for applying the broad principles of my invention, not only to a semi-inclo'sed upper deck being greater than the height roof but also to an upper deck roof which is completely closed when the roof sections are unfolded, said up r deck roof in this latter construction havm its inner juxtaposed edge portions meeting at an obtuse angle so thatthe average standing passenger can readlly move to and fro in the center aisle between the oppositely located seats.

My invention further consists of other novel features of construction and advantage, as will be hereinafter fully set forth and pointed out in the claims appended hereto.

For the purpose of illustrating my invention I have shown in the accompanying drawings forms thereof which are at present preferred by me, since they have been found in practice to give satisfactory and reliable results, although it is to be understood that the various instrumentalities of which my invention consists can be variously arranged and organized and that my invention is not limited to the precise arrangement and organization of these instrumentalities as herein shown and described.

Figure 1 represents a vertical sectional view of a novel construction of a semiinclosed, collapsible roof for the upper deck of a double deck passenger carrying ve hicle or bus, embodying my invention, the roof sections being shown in unfolded position, and certain parts being shown in elevation.

Figure 2 represents a view similar to Figure 1, but showing the roof sections in folded or collapsed condition.

- Figure 3 represents on an enlarged scale a vertical sectional view, partly in elevation, of the right hand portion of Figure 1.

Figure 4 represents on an enlarged scale, a vertical sectional view, partly in elevation, of the right hand portion of Figure 2.

Figure 5 represents on an enlarged scale, a side elevation of the right hand carline seen in Figures 1 and 3, the roof proper being shown in section and the bows omitted.

Figure 6 represents on an enlarged scale a sectional view partly in elevation of the elements seen in Figure 5, in folded or collapsed condition.

Figure 7 represents a section on line 77, Figure 4, of my novel construction of foldable or collapsible bows, the window posts being shown in horizontal section, on said line 7-7.

Figure 8 represents a front elevation,

partly in section, of my invention as employed for acompletely mclosed upper deck roof, the car seats and the bows being omitted for clearness of illustration.

Figure 9 re resents on a reduced scale a plan view 0 theopen roof construction seen in Figure 2..

Figure 10 represents on a a plan view of the completely closed roof construction seen in Figure 8.

Figure 11 represents ona reduced scale a plan view of thesemi-inclosed roof seen in Figure 1. Figure 12 represents a' plan view of the construction seen in-Figure 1, but showing a plurality of the collapsible roof sections, as being employed on each side of the vehicle.

Figure 13 represents a plan view of theconstruction seen in Figure 8, but showing .the appearance of the roof when a plurality an upper deck wall with the carline in its horizontal position.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts.

Referring to the drawings As one object of my invention is to provide a longitudinally extending semi-inclosed upper deck one man top, which can be instantly folded or collapsed or unfolded, by a single attendant, which when in unfolded position will afl'ord ample protection for the upper deck seat occupants from the sun or elements and at the same time give the proper ventilation, which is so desirable, I have shown herein a referred form of construction which is capa le of at taining my object, but it is to be understood that slight chan es in the manner of collocating and assemb ing the various elements of my invention ma be made without departing from the spirit thereof.

In the present construction, I have shown the upper deck 1 of the double deck passenger carrying vehicle or bus, as provlded on each side of the center aisle 2 with transverse rows of seats 3 having the backs 4. 5 designates the inner seat supports and 6 the outer seat supports which are located within, and in proximit to the upper deck walls 7. 8 designates lihe upright window posts, which are spaced at approximatel the usual distance apart and provided wit the vertical grooves 9 for the reception of the window sashes as will be best understood from figure 7. 'The window posts 8 are reduced scale each provided with a pair of lugs'lO-ih which are pivotally mounted the lower ends of the bows-11, the latter consisting of-the' lower member 12 andthe upper member 13.

which are pivoted together at the point 14. The lower bow member 12 is pivotally mounted on the lugs-101st the point 15,

while the up r bow member 13 is pivotally mounted at t e .point 16' to the lug or ear 17, which depends from the longer inner earline member 18'of the carline 19. The carline 19 is composed of the longer inner earline member 18 and the shorter outer carline member 20, said carline members being a hinged or pivoted together at the point 21. The outer,.shorter carline member 20 near its end has a transverse pin 48, best seen in Fi 7, 15 and 16, which projects from each si e thereof and is arran ed for vertical movement through opposite y disposed, par

allel grooves 49 ma window post 8, the upper end of each lgroove being arranged u on a curve directe toward the vehicle aisle. The upper terminal of each groove is desigwith an entrance 0 enmg 51 for the pin 48 y by means of whic the parts may be assembled. Each outer, shorter carline mem ber 20' is notched as at 52 adjacent in 48, so that when. parts 20 18 are shi ted to horizontal position, see Fig. 16,'the notched upper extension 23 of the window posts ,8. 24 designates the end walls of the bus in which are located the guide grooves 25, which extend downwardly and inwardly, as will be understood from Figs. 1 and 2, in which rooves ride the ends of the longitudinal y extending rods 26, as will be understood from Fig. 14, each of said rods 26 passing through the inner end of the inner longer carline member 18 which is provided with the curved curtain supporting wall 27, upon which the inner end of the curtain 28 is secured, the outer end of said curtain being fixedly secured at the points 29.

30 and 31 designate thin sheet metal plates or bars whose approximate positions are best seen in Fig. 5. The plate 31 extends overthe hinge or pivotal point 21 while the slate 30 is located inwardly thereof. 32

its ower end pivoted at 33 to the upper portion of the inner seat support 5, said It willbe understood from the-foregoing, that when the right and left hand roof sec-' tions' which I have indicated as 34 in Figs.

part 52 cooperates with fixed pin 22 of the ates a folding stanchion, which has.

' seated passengers from the sun and the elements. When the roof sections 34 seen in Figs. 1 and 11 are collapsed, it will be evident that the up er deck roof will then appear as seen in igures 2 and 9, the entire space. between the upper deck walls being open as indicated at 35' seen in Fi res 2 and 9. In the construction seen in 1g. 8,

I have shown the carlines 36 on each side as being composed of an inner longer mem ber 37, and the outer shorter member 38, said members being hinged together or piv-- otally connected at 39. The outer shorter carline member 38 is hinged at the point 40 to the upper end 23 of the upper deck wall 7 as already described. The 1nner ends of the longer carline members 37 seen in Fig. 8 are however not bent downwardly as seen in Figs. 1, 3 and 5, but are rectilinear, so that they meet at the apex 41 which is. in alignment with the longitudinal, central median line of the vehicle, as seen in Figs. 8 and 10, at which point they can be held in assembled position by screws, bolts or other suitable fastening devices 42, as will be understood from Fig. 8. In the construction seen in Figs. 8 and 10,'it will be apparent that the two roof sections 43, when in unfolded position as seen in said figures constitute a completely inclosed upper deck top, which at will can be made completely to'inclose upper deck, so that the upper seat oc cupants will be entirely protected from the sun and the elements, said roof sections 43 being capable of being readily collapsed or folded as will be understood from the left hand portion of 8. In the construction seen in Fig. 12 I have shown a roof similar to the roof seen in Figs. 1 and 11 but made in two sections on each side thereof, as indicated at 44. In the construction seen in Figure 13 I have shown the roof seen in Figs. 8 and 10, as being made in two sec tions on each side, said sections being indicated as 45. When the folding stanchions 32 are employed and the roof sections are positioned as seen in Figs. 1 and 3, the upper ends of said stanchions are fastened to the lower juxtaposed ends of the inner carline members 18 by means of anysuitable fastening device, as indicated at 46 in said figures. The inner surfaces of the top at the upper outer corners at about the point designated as 23 are adapted for the reception of advertising matter, while the opposite surfaces of the topat about the points indicated at 27 are adapted for inverted advertising matter, so that when the top is collapsed as seen in Figs. 2, 4 and 6, the lattor advertisingmatter appears in a readable position, whereby my invention can readily display advertismg matter, irrespective of Whether the to is in foldable or unfolded position. The ows when in folded position are locked by a spring catch 47, as seen in Figs. 2, 3 and 4. The operation of folding and unfolding the top is as follows and since both sides function alike, a description of one will suffice for both. In inclement or hot weather the top appears as seen in Figs. 1, 3, 5 and 11. The top curve 28 is held taut by the bows 11, and the carlines 19 and the folding stanchions 32, when employed give additional strength and rigidity to the roof structure. The rods 26, whose ends interlock with the grooves 25, (see Fig. 14)

also strengthen the roof structure fore and aft, as is evident.

To collapse the roof, the operator disconnects the fastenings 46. The bows 11 and the carlines 19 are then folded with the position seen in dotted lines Fig. 3, during which movement the notched part- 52 of member 20 is caused to disengage from fixed pin 22 so that pin 48 may be free to I descend through the grooves 49, which groovesserve to guide the pin 48 in a manner to permit proper folding or collapsing of roof elements. A further outward pressure on the rod 26 causes the roof elements to move from the position seen in Figs. 1 and 3 to the position seen in Figs. 2, 4 and 6, the cover 28 being folded neatly upon itself, by virtue of the spring strips 30 and 31, as will be understood from the enlarged view in Fig. 6, and the spring 47 snapping over the contiguous upper end of the bow member 12, as seen in Fig. 4 looks the parts in folded position. During the folding operation, the ends of the rod 26 ride upwardly and outwardl in the grooves 25, and when the top is f0 ded, theends of said rod are in the upper outer portion of said guide mg transversely of said upperupper deck and their upper ends pivotally at. pivotal! a we having their lower deck and their upper. ends" ivotally connected to the inner sections said carlines;

2. In afdevice of the character stated, an

" upper deck'collapsible roof structure thereon,- transversely foldable carlines therefor of-said upper deck,

extending transverselly end walls for said-dec having de grooves therein, a rod extending longitudinally of- .said upper deck and'carried by said carlines guided in said grooves, and foldahle and bows for said carlines.

3. In a'device-of' the character stated, an

upper deck, a central aisle therefor, an upper deck collapsible roof structure, higher than and foldablebows having their lower endspivotally mounted above said upper deck and their upper ends pivotally attached to Y the inner sections of said carlines.

upper deck, an up 4. In'a device of the character stated,a'n

structure, higher t an the head of the average seated passenger and lower" than the head of the average standin passenger, transversely foldable carlines therefor, havin their outer ends pivotally mounted above said deck, and foldable bows having their lower ends. 'pivotally mounted above said attached to said carlines, end walls for said deck, having guide grooves therein, and a' rod carried by said carlines and guided in said rooves.

5. n a device of the character stated, an upper deck, end walls therefor having guide lugs t ereon, transversel hinged at their outer en s above said upper deck, foldable bows attached j to said lugs and carlines, and a longitudinal}; extending rod'carried on the mner en s of said carlines and having its ends mounted in said guide grooves.

6. In a device of the character stated, an upper deck, end walls therefor having guide grooves, upright window posts having lugs thereon, transversely foldable carlines, hinged at their outer ends above said upper deck, foldable bows attached to said lugs and carlines, and a longitudinall extending'rod carried on the inner en s of said carlines and having its ends mounted in said guide grooves, and acover carried by said carlines and adapted to be folded in unison therewith.

7. In a device of the character stated, an upper deck having a central aisle and oppositely arranged rows of seats, upper deck was w v i v above-said upper:

deck and foldablefh euds pivotally mounted above said'upperpivotally to sai r deck collapsible roof 'rod sup ooves, upright window posts having foldable carlines,

.aisle higher than the average seated. senger but lower than the average stan ing outer walls,

laterally-inwardly. over said seats. and terminati foldable their outer. en

walls, foldable bows pivo at their'upper LIX per; Outer at said central transversel ends to said-carlines and at their lowerf'ends to la projecting inwardly fromsaid up- I pereck outerwalls alongitudinally'extending rod', carried y the'innerends of said carlines, and end wallsjhfor said-d k i saidfro 8.'In a device ing space ad, oppositely grooves ex- .ha'vin'g (guide groo ves therein for the ends of the character ated, an upper deck, upright window posts each hav-- tending from adjacent said deck upwardly,

pairs of transversely foldable carlines, each of which is provided with a transversely dis (1 pin for tracking in said grooves, en walls for said deckhaving guide grooves therein, and rods carried'by said carlines" and guided in said grooves.

9. In a device of thecharacter stated, an

upper deck, upright window posts each hav-" ing spaced, oppositely disposed grooves extending from adjacent said: deck u wardly,

pairs'of transversely foldable carhnes, the

outer of each of which is 'pro'vided'with a1 transversely disposed'pin for tracking in said grooves, and a longitudinall extendin rted by the upper portions .of sai posts, t e outer of each of said carlines be- I in' notched to cooperatively en age with said rod in extendedposition "of said carlines. 1

- 10. In a device of the character stated, an upper deck,'upri ght window posts each having spaced oppositely disposed grooves extending from adjacent said deck upwardly, pairs of foldable carlines, the outer of each of which is provided with a transversely disposed pin for tracking in said grooves, the upper terminals of said grooves serving as stops for saidpins .to limit lateral shifting of said carlines, and the-lower portions of said grooves being cut away to provide pin entrance portions'for' assembling purposes.

-11. In a double deck vehicle an upper deck, outer upper deck walls a foldable roof structure above said upper deck said roof structure folding transversely-in a plurality of parts toward said outer upper deck walls, end walls for said upperdeck having guide grooves therein, and a rod carried by said roof structure and having its ends guided in said grooves.

12. In a double deck vehicle, an upper deck, outer upper deck walls, seats upon said upper deck placed transversely on either side of a central aisle running longitudinally 'of-the vehicle foldable roof structures over said seats terminating-at said passenger, said roof structure folding transversely towards and against said outer upper deck walls, end walls for said upper deck having guide coves therein, and a rod carried by said roo structure and having its ends guided in said grooves.

13. In a device of the character stated, a double deck vehicle, an upper deck, outer upper deck walls substantially surrounding said upper deck, an upper deck collapsible roof structure, transversely foldable carlines therefor, having their outer ends pivotally and slidably mounted on said upper deck walls, foldable bows havin their lower ends pivotally mounted on said outer deck walls and their upper ends on said foldable carlines, flexible and foldable roof material and means for causing said roof material to fold evenly on itself when said roof is collapsed.

14. In a double deck vehicle, an upper deck, outer upper side walls, a foldable roof structure above said upper deck, and comprising jointed carlines, jointed bows having their upper ends pivoted to said carlines, and their lower ends pivoted to the side walls, longitudinally extending rods carried by said carlines, end walls for said up er deck, and inclined grooves on said end wa Is, the ends of said rods being received and guided in said end grooves.

ALBERT E. HUTP. 

